JPH10187366A - Device for controlling output and method therefor and storage medium for storing program readable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate each item setting operation of a printing device for a plotting part when a printing device connected with a network is shared by plural host computers. SOLUTION: A protocol controlling part 11 obtains a setting information file to be set for a plotting unit 2 from any host computer in a prescribed timing, and analyzes the obtained setting information file. Then, a data monitoring part 12 converts the setting information file into a command to be set for the plotting unit 2, and a command communicating part 13 transfers the converted command to the plotting unit 2. Thus, while the setting information file to be set for the plotting part is obtained from any host computer in a proper timing, the setting of each item of a printing device on a network 4 for the plotting part can be automated, and each item setting operation load on the printing device equivalent to a request from each host computer can be sharply reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device having a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium and a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. The present invention relates to an output control device and an output control method for processing an output request by communicating with a computer, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various setting items such as a standard font, its size, and a paper cassette for an output device such as a printer or a copying machine connected to a network have to be performed on an individual operation panel for each output device.

[0003]

For this reason, a network administrator who manages a number of printers must repeat the same setting operation for each printer, which takes much time and effort depending on the number of printers. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to seventh inventions according to the present invention is to set a setting information file to be set in a printing apparatus in an appropriate manner. By acquiring from the host computer on the network at the timing and transferring it to the drawing unit of the printing device,
When a plurality of host computers share a printing device connected to a network, it is possible to automate each item setting operation on a drawing unit of the printing device, thereby greatly reducing an operation burden on an administrator who manages the printing device. An object of the present invention is to provide an output control device and an output control method that can be used and a storage medium that stores a computer-readable program.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of host computers and image data that can be output from an output unit based on output information from each host computer via a predetermined communication medium are provided. In an output control device for processing an output request by communicating with an output device having a drawing unit for drawing, an obtaining means for obtaining a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from any host computer at a predetermined timing Conversion means for analyzing the setting information file obtained by the obtaining means and converting the setting information file into a command to be set in the drawing unit; and communication means for transferring the command converted by the conversion means to the drawing unit. It has.

A second invention according to the present invention has setting means for setting a host computer from which the setting information file is to be obtained, and the setting means sets the setting information file to be set for the drawing section by the obtaining means. It is obtained at a predetermined timing from the host computer set by the setting means.

In a third aspect according to the present invention, the predetermined timing is at power-on.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined timing is when a reset command is received from each host computer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined timing is at the time of a reset instruction from an operation panel of the output device.

A sixth invention according to the present invention comprises a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium and a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. An output control method for processing an output request by communicating with an output device, wherein an acquisition step of acquiring a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from any host computer at a predetermined timing; and Transferring a command to be set in the drawing unit by analyzing the information file to the drawing unit.

A seventh invention according to the present invention comprises a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium and a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that communicates with an output device and processes an output request, and obtains a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from any host computer at a predetermined timing. A computer-readable program stored in a storage medium, comprising: an obtaining step of performing the above-described processing; and a transfer step of analyzing the obtained setting information file and transferring a command to be set to the drawing section to the drawing section. It is.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an output control device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. In the first embodiment, a plurality of networks connected by a network 4 are illustrated. Client computers 51-53
And a network I which receives a drawing command from the server computer 54 and sends the drawing command to the drawing unit
/ F unit 1 and this network I / F unit 1
A drawing unit 2 for developing an image in the DRAM 25 from a drawing command received from the CPU, an engine control unit 3 for receiving image data from the drawing unit 2 and printing it on a recording medium, and an operation panel 29 for performing various settings.
The power supply device 6 includes a power switch.

Here, when the engine control unit 3 receives a stop command from the drawing unit 2, the engine control unit 3 stops a printing configuration of a fuse, a main motor, a polygon scanner motor, and the like of the printer and sets a printing mechanism stopping unit 31 to be in an operation standby state. And a print mechanism activation unit 32 that activates the print commands upon receipt of the print commands and sets them in a printable state.

The drawing unit 2 includes an operation panel 29 for manually setting a menu by a printer user and an I / O controller 22 for transmitting and receiving data from the network I / F unit 1; And a DRA for controlling the DRAM 25
An M controller 24, an EEPROM 23 that stores menu settings in a nonvolatile manner, a font ROM 27 that stores font data, and a video controller 26 that transfers data to the engine control unit 3.
And a CPU 21 that performs processing according to the procedure stored in the F / WROM 28.

Further, an operation panel 29 includes a display panel 291 for displaying printer status and setting information, and an offline button 292 for switching between online and offline.
And a menu button 293 for the operator to instruct a setting request when offline, a selection / confirmation button 294 pressed by the operator when selecting / confirming menu contents and setting values, and an escape button for returning to the previous hierarchical menu. 295.

FIG. 2 shows the network I / F shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a unit 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the network I / F unit 1 receives a protocol corresponding to various protocols and extracts a data portion from a data packet, and transmits data from the protocol controller 11 to the protocol. If it is a drawing command or a printer setting command to monitor and flow it as it is, if it is an information setting file, it is converted to a plurality of printer setting commands, and a command sent from the data monitoring unit 12 is sent to the drawing unit 2. And a server setting unit 14 for setting information for specifying the server computer 54 having the setting information file.

First, a server setting operation for recognizing the server computer 54 in which the printer setting information file is stored will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing a server setting operation procedure for recognizing the server computer 54 by the operation panel 29 shown in FIG. (S31)-
(S37), (S40) to (S43) show the procedure,
"↓" corresponds to pressing the menu button, "→" corresponds to pressing the select / confirm button, "←" corresponds to the escape button, and dashed arrow corresponds to pressing the offline button. .

Off-line button 292 on operation panel 29
Is pressed to enter the offline mode (S31). Next, by pressing the menu button 293, various setting items are displayed on the display panel 291 (S32). Each time the menu button 293 is pressed, the content of each setting item changes in a loop. To select a setting item, select / confirm button 294 where the desired setting item is displayed.
Can be done by pressing.

If the wrong place and select button 2
Even if the user presses the button 94, the user can return to the previous layer by pressing the escape button 295. Here, O
By pressing the menu button 292 twice from the FFLINE display (S32, S33), the Set FIL
E is displayed on the display panel 291 to become a setting file setting menu.

Here, when the selection / confirmation button 294 is pressed (S34), an AUTO / MAN display showing items for setting automatic and manual settings is displayed on the display panel 291. Further, when the selection / confirmation button 294 is pressed (S35), "AUTO" is displayed. If you want to set automatically, press the select / confirm button. If not, press the menu button 293 to display "MAN".
The selection / confirmation button 294 may be pressed after switching to. Here, the selection / confirmation button 294 is pressed when "AUTO" is displayed (S36). At this time, "Selected" is temporarily displayed on the operation panel 29, and the display returns to the original "AUTO" display.

When the setting is completed, the user presses the offline button 292 (S37) to return to the online state, which is the normal use state, and the display panel 291 displays "R".
"Eady" is displayed.

On the other hand, in the procedure (S33), when the menu button 293 is pressed, the interface setting is displayed (S40). When the menu button 293 is pressed, the paper setting is displayed (S41), and the menu button 293 is further pressed. Then, “Reset” is displayed (S 42). Here, when the menu button 293 is pressed, the procedure returns to the procedure (S 32), and when the select / confirm button 294 is pressed (S 43), the state becomes “Ready”.

As for the method of specifying the server computer in which the setting information file is placed, the server computer 54 specifies the server computer 54 by using the server setting section 14 of the network I / F unit. Here, a hardware I / O by DIP-SW etc.
Although a means for setting the P address is assumed, a numeric button or a cursor button is prepared on the operation panel 29 to set the IP address.
If the address can be input, the server computer 54 can be set on the operation panel 29.

Further, the network administrator needs to log in to the server computer 54 using the client computer 51 and store the setting information file created in advance. The processing up to this is the processing relating to the preparation of the setting information file.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and each means of the first to fifth inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

According to the first invention, a plurality of host computers (computers 51 to 54) and image data which can be output from an output unit based on output information from each host computer via a predetermined communication medium (network 4). In an output control device for processing an output request by communicating with an output device having a drawing unit for drawing, a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit (drawing unit 2) is transmitted from one of the host computers at a predetermined timing. Acquiring means (protocol control unit 11), and converting means (data monitoring unit 1) for analyzing the setting information file acquired by the acquiring means and converting it into a command to be set in the drawing unit.
2) and communication means for transferring the command converted by the conversion means to the drawing unit (command communication unit 13)
The protocol control unit 11 obtains a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit 2 from any of the host computers at a predetermined timing, analyzes the obtained setting information file, and executes a data monitoring unit. The command communication unit 13 converts the command into a command to be set in the drawing unit 2 and transfers the converted command to the drawing unit. The setting of each item for the drawing unit of the printing device on the network can be automated while acquiring from any of the host computers, greatly reducing the burden of setting each item on the printing device that meets the request from each host computer. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host computer (for example, a server) in which a setting information file to be set in the drawing unit by the acquisition unit (protocol control unit 11) is set by the setting unit (server setting unit 14). Since the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit is acquired from the computer 54) at a predetermined timing, the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit is set at an appropriate timing for the drawing unit while freely setting the candidate destination of the host computer from which to acquire the setting information file. The setting information file to be obtained can be reliably acquired from the set host computer.

According to a third aspect, the predetermined timing is:
Since the power is turned on, the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit can be reliably acquired from the set host computer every time the power of the power supply device 6 is turned on.

According to a fourth aspect, the predetermined timing is:
Since the reset command from each of the host computers 51 to 54 is received, the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit every time the reset command is received can be reliably acquired from the set host computer.

In a fifth aspect, the predetermined timing is:
Since a reset instruction is issued from the operation panel of the output device, a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit every time a reset instruction is issued from the operation panel 29 of the output device can be reliably obtained from the set host computer. Can be.

The operation from the setting information file to the setting of each printer parameter will now be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of a data processing procedure of the output control device according to the present invention.
Note that (50) to (58) and (70) to (76) indicate each step.

When the power switch of the power supply 6 is turned on, the printer is started (50). The CPU 21 sets F
After performing the initial setting according to the contents stored in the / WROM 28 (51), an instruction to perform the printer setting is sent from the CPU 21 of the drawing unit 2 via the I / O controller 22 to the command communication unit 1 of the network / F1.
3 is performed. Command communication unit 1 receiving the instruction
3 instructs the protocol control unit 11 via the data monitoring unit 12 to connect (login) to a computer which is set in advance by the server setting unit 14 and waits for an IP address. After the connection is successfully established, a predetermined setting information file is downloaded, and the setting information is brought to the data monitoring unit 12 via the protocol control unit 11 (5.
2).

The data monitoring unit 12 decodes the downloaded setting information file, converts it into a plurality of commands in a format that the drawing unit 2 can understand, and sends it to the command communication unit 13. The I / O controller 22 of the drawing unit 2 receives the printer setting command while communicating with the command communication unit 13, and the CPU 21 sets the printer based on the command in the EEPROM 23 (53).

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the timing at which the network I / F unit 1 logs in to the server computer 54 is described as when the power is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to when the power is turned on. For example, even when the power is on, by giving the reset command, the information setting file can be similarly downloaded and the printer setting command can be given. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[Third Embodiment] Hereinafter, as a third embodiment, a portion in which the network I / F unit 1 logs in to the server computer 54 will be described.

The reset command can be given from the client computers 51 to 53 on the network.
It can also be provided by using the operation panel 29.

When a reset command is given from the client computers 51 to 53 on the network, as shown in the flowchart of receiving data from the host computer in the drawing unit 2 in FIG.
When data is received from the F unit 1 (73), the CPU
21 recognizes that it is a reset command (7
4) The data reception processing is interrupted (72), and the information setting file shown in FIG.
2) and issue a printer setting command (5)
3).

On the other hand, if NO is determined in the step (74), the data is processed (75), and it is determined whether or not data is received from the host (76).
If yes, return to step (54); if YES, return to step (73).

In step (54), it is determined whether or not the offline button 292 has been pressed. If YES, a menu setting process is executed (58), and various processes such as printing are executed, and the process proceeds to step (70). .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (54) that the offline button 292 has not been pressed,
It is determined whether the menu button 293 has been pressed (55), and if YES, a menu setting process is executed (5
8) Perform each process such as printing, and proceed to step (70).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (55) that the menu button 293 has not been pressed, it is determined whether the select / confirm button 294 has been pressed (56). And execute (5
8) Perform each process such as printing, and proceed to step (70).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (56) that the menu button 293 has not been pressed, it is determined whether the escape button 295 has been pressed (57). If YES, the menu setting processing is executed. (5
8) Perform each process such as printing, and proceed to step (70). If NO, proceed to step (59).

Thus, in order to reset the operation panel 29, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed in the “Ready” mode, the user presses the offline button 292 (S 31) to display “OFFLINE”.
State, and press the menu button 293 to “Reset”
Press and hold until the display is displayed (S32 to S42). Then, when the display panel 291 performs the Reset display and presses the select / confirm button 294 (43), the CP is transmitted via the I / O controller 22 in step (71) of FIG.
The process of step (72) is performed in the same manner as when U21 receives the reset command.

As described above, the network I
/ F1 is set with server computer connection information,
By placing the information setting file for the printer in the server computer 54, the network I / F unit 1 logs in to the server computer 54 to download the information setting file for the printer when the power is turned on or when a reset command is issued. By converting this into a printer setting command and sending it to the drawing unit, a plurality of settings of the network printer can be made.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and each step of the sixth and seventh inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIGS.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of host computers (51 to 5) are connected via a predetermined communication medium (network 4).
4) and an output control method for processing an output request by communicating with an output device having a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from an output unit based on output information from each host computer. Acquisition step of acquiring a setting information file to be set from any of the host computers at a predetermined timing (step (52) in FIG. 4)
And a transfer step (step (53) in FIG. 4) for analyzing the acquired setting information file and transferring a command to be set in the drawing unit to the drawing unit (drawing unit 2). Since a control program stored in a ROM or a memory resource (not shown) is executed, a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit at an appropriate timing is acquired from any of the host computers while the drawing unit of the printing apparatus on the network is being obtained. Can be automatically set, and the burden of setting each item on the printing apparatus corresponding to the request from each host computer can be greatly reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system comprising: a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium; and an output device including a drawing unit for drawing image data which can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. Obtaining a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from a host computer at a predetermined timing on a storage medium storing a computer-readable program that processes the output request. A step (52) in FIG. 4) and a transfer step (step (53) in FIG. 4) of analyzing the acquired setting information file and transferring a command to be set in the drawing unit to the drawing unit. And a computer-readable program stored in a storage medium. That is, a program code corresponding to the steps shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is stored in an external storage medium or an internal storage resource to be described later, and a CPU (not shown) reads out and executes the program code from the storage medium storing the program code. This is included in the embodiment of the invention. The predetermined timing is when the power is turned on, when a reset command is received from each host computer, and when a reset instruction is issued from the operation panel 29.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the information setting file is processed as one common file for each host computer has been described. However, a plurality of information setting files (different paper sizes and different font sizes) are used. The information setting file to be set in the drawing unit 2 is freely changed based on predetermined conditions (difference in host, difference in reset command destination, etc.) in the server computer 54. Possible control (including control to enable or disable the control)
May be configured.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a data processing program readable by the output control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the output control device according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0062]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, the acquiring unit acquires the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from any of the host computers at a predetermined timing, analyzes the acquired setting information file, and converts the drawing Since the command is converted into a command to be set in the drawing unit, and the converted command is transferred to the drawing unit by the communication unit, a setting information file to be set in the drawing unit at an appropriate timing is transmitted from any of the host computers. It is possible to automate the setting of each item in the drawing unit of the printing device on the network while acquiring the information, and it is possible to significantly reduce the burden of setting each item on the printing device that meets the request from each host computer.

According to the second aspect, the obtaining means obtains the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from the host computer set by the setting means at a predetermined timing. To freely obtain the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from the set host computer at an appropriate timing while freely setting the candidate destination of the host computer from which the setting information file to be set is to be obtained. Can be.

According to the third aspect, the predetermined timing is at the time of power-on, so that the setting information file to be set for the drawing unit every time the power is turned on is reliably transmitted from the host computer in which the setting information file is set. Can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect, the predetermined timing is set when a reset command from each host computer is received. Therefore, a setting information file to be set in the drawing unit every time a reset command is received is set. Can be reliably obtained from the specified host computer.

According to the fifth aspect, the predetermined timing is set at the time of a reset instruction from the operation panel of the output device. Therefore, the predetermined timing is set in the drawing unit for each reset instruction from the operation panel of the output device. The setting information file to be obtained can be reliably acquired from the set host computer.

According to the sixth and seventh aspects, a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit is obtained from any of the host computers at a predetermined timing, and the obtained setting information file is analyzed. Since a command to be set in the drawing unit is transferred to the drawing unit, a setting information file to be set in the drawing unit is acquired at an appropriate timing from one of the host computers while the drawing unit of the printing device on the network is Can be automatically set, and the burden of setting each item on the printing apparatus corresponding to the request from each host computer can be greatly reduced.

Therefore, when a plurality of host computers share a printing device connected to the network, the operation setting of each item for the drawing unit of the printing device is automated, and the operation burden on the administrator who manages the printing device is greatly reduced. This has the effect of being able to be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an output control device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a network I / F unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing a server setting operation procedure for recognizing a server computer using the operation panel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure of the output control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure of the output control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the output control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network interface unit 2 drawing unit 3 engine control unit 21 CPU 25 DRAM 28 F / WROM 29 operation panel 51 first client computer 52 second client computer 53 third client computer 54 server computer 291 display panel 292 offline button 293 Menu button 294 Select / confirm button 295 Escape button

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An output request comprising communicating with a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium and an output device including a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. An output control device that processes a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from a host computer at a predetermined timing; and analyzes the setting information file obtained by the obtaining unit. An output control device, comprising: conversion means for converting the command converted by the conversion means into a command to be set in the drawing unit; and communication means for transferring the command converted by the conversion means to the drawing unit. 2. A host computer having a setting unit for setting a host computer from which the setting information file is to be obtained, wherein the setting unit sets a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit by the obtaining unit. 2. The output control device according to claim 1, wherein the output control device obtains the information at a predetermined timing. 3. The output control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is at power-on. 4. The output control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is when a reset command is received from each host computer. 5. The output control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is at the time of a reset instruction from an operation panel of the output device. 6. An output request by communicating with a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium and an output device including a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. An acquisition step of acquiring a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from any host computer at a predetermined timing; and analyzing the acquired setting information file to perform the drawing. And a transfer step of transferring a command to be set in the unit to the drawing unit. 7. An output request by communicating with a plurality of host computers via a predetermined communication medium and an output device including a drawing unit for drawing image data that can be output from the output unit based on output information from each host computer. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for processing the image processing unit, wherein an obtaining step of obtaining a setting information file to be set for the drawing unit from any of the host computers at a predetermined timing; and Transferring a command to be set in the drawing unit by analyzing the setting information file to the drawing unit.